Re-closable pouring element for cardboard/plastic composite packagings

ABSTRACT

Described and shown is a re-closable pouring element for cardboard/plastic composite packagings comprising a base to be applied onto the packaging in the vicinity of an over-coated weakened zone, a lid pivotably mounted at the end of the base, and an opening element, pivotably mounted on the lid, wherein restricted guidance elements are arranged between the base and the opening element. A pouring element with small overall height which ensures reliable opening of the packaging is achieved by that the opening element is joined in an articulated manner at the end of a lever projecting downward from the lid, so that the opening element when the lid is lifted up is firstly made to perform a linear movement forward, which as a result of further restricted guidance elements arranged on the interior of the base and/or on the opening element is converted into a downward movement.

The invention relates to a re-closable pouring element forcardboard/plastic composite packagings comprising a base to be appliedonto the packaging in the vicinity of an over-coated weakened zone, alid pivotably mounted at the end of the base and an opening elementpivotably mounted on the lid, wherein restricted guidance elements arearranged between the base and the opening element.

Re-closable pouring elements for beverage packagings have been availableon the market for a long time in various configurations. They usuallyconsist of three parts, a base, a lid and an opening element forfirst-time opening of a packaging provided with such a pouring element.Depending upon the design these can be screw-caps or, however, of thetype where the lid is lifted up (WO 97/46455 A1) or pulled out (DE 19637 865 C2). Also known are two-piece pouring elements, wherein the lidis simultaneously implemented as an opening element (U.S. Pat. No.6,257,449 B1).

In principle, all efforts are made to configure the pouring elements inquestion to be as consumer-friendly as possible, so that on the one handeasy manipulation is assured and on the other hand the actual pouringoperation may be as trouble-free as possible. Furthermore, the overallheight is to be kept to a minimum for reasons of material usage and thusproduction costs and for better stackability.

Both in the case of screw-caps and also such pouring elements, whichwork with an opening element to be pressed into the packaging interior,the overall height must be at least such that the weakened zones usuallyover-coated with a composite made from polyethylene foil and aluminiumfoil are also reliably opened. The problem in this case is thatpolyethylene is very flexible and for this reason, different than withaluminium foil on its own, cannot be easily “punched out”. Hence,pouring elements have become generally accepted, which either pull outthe material of the weakened zone through an opening element, to beremoved, of the packaging or, however, such which are provided with anopening element that can be pivoted into the packaging interior, as aresult of which reliable piercing of the weakened zone can be achieved.

The re-closable pouring element in accordance with WO 97/46455 A1,however, is disadvantageous to the extent that the opening element mustbe manipulated separately after lifting the lid with a finger or anotherarticle. There have also already been such pouring elements, wherein theopening element must be manipulated by lifting up the lid (WO 90/14280or U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,449 B1).

Also, WO 2005/077769 A1 already describes a pouring element with a lidand an opening element, wherein the opening element is joined to thebase in an articulated manner. Since in the case of this prior-artpouring element, when the lid is lifted up, the opening element shouldbe pivoted downwards, means to transmit the force are necessary, thusfor example the use of a pull-strip or combing gear wheels is described.It is quickly evident that the force to be transmitted to the openingelement has to be enormous, since the opening element must be pressedagainst the packaging wall over its entire length, in order to destroythis. Therefore, such a pouring element can only be produced withextremely high consumption of time and effort plus the associated costs.

Finally, there is already a relatively small pouring element, whereinthe opening element is manipulated by a guide in the sidewalls (WO03/047981 A2). This prior-art re-closable pouring element has all thefeatures of the preamble of Claim 1. Due to the problem concerning theflexibility of polyethylene, already mentioned, this prior-art pouringelement however does not work satisfactorily, since only the tip of theopening element can penetrate the polyethylene material or the compositemade from polyethylene and aluminium foil during the opening operation.The forces to be transmitted only act at the tip of the opening element,so that this prior-art pouring element therefore does not always ensurereliable exposure of a constantly defined pouring opening.

On this basis the object of the present invention is to provide are-closable pouring element, which eliminates the disadvantagesdescribed in detail above and, despite small overall height, ensuresreliable opening of the packaging and defined exposure of the weakenedzone.

This object is achieved by a pouring element with the features of thepreamble of Claim 1 due to the fact that the opening element is joinedin an articulated manner to a lever projecting downwards from the lid,so that the opening element when the lid is lifted up is firstly made toperform a linear movement forwards, which as a result of furtherrestricted guidance elements arranged on the interior of the base and/oron the opening element is converted into a downwards movement.

In this way, it was possible for the opening element firstly to performa “forward movement” when the lid is lifted up and thus, due to thecorresponding restricted guidance elements on the base element, with a“digging” movement to move into the weakened zone and there to lead toreliable destruction of the composite made from polyethylene foil andaluminium foil. Because the opening element is not joined to the liditself but to a bar which is held at a distance from the lid as a lever,the entire front part of the opening element pivots with relative forceinto the polyethylene/aluminium material to be destroyed and ensures theexposure of a sufficiently large pouring opening, which is described indetail further down.

The invention recognized that as a result of using restricted guidanceelements on the lid and/or opening element, optimum transmission offorce is ensured for starting the opening operation of the containerwhen the lid is lifted up. This is achieved particularly by the factthat the opening element does not simply pivot into the packingmaterial, but performs a linear and rotary movement.

In particular, the present invention covers all restricted guidanceelements, even though the discussion below only concerns the preferredembodiment with guide rails provided on the base element and slidingelements provided on the opening element. It is also possible within thescope of the invention to construct the arrangement in reverse or evento use different restricted guidance elements known to persons skilledin the art. Thus, it is for example also possible to configure theopening elements not as more or less flat plate but in a corrugatedform, wherein the lateral edges of this corrugated plate can thendirectly act as guide rails.

In accordance with a preferred teaching of the invention the restrictedguidance elements have lateral guidance elements, arranged on theinterior of the base, which correspond with matching sliding elements ofthe opening element, and the further restricted guidance elements areformed as lateral guidance elements, arranged diagonally on the base,which correspond with further matching sliding elements of the openingelement.

Another teaching of the invention provides that the lever projectingfrom the lid is formed as a bar. Thus, particularly good transmission offorce can be realized in a simple manner.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention in thiscase, the bar when the lid is closed, substantially extends as far asthe contact plane of the flange (lower surface of the pouring element).Thus, maximum leverage can be achieved.

A further teaching of the invention provides that the opening elementhas a peripheral cutting edge at least in the section, which is swungout from the plane of the lower surface of the pouring element. In thisway, it is reliably ensured that the over-coating in the vicinity of theweakened zone splits cleanly and can be removed from the pouringopening.

According to a further embodiment of the invention the opening element,in the vicinity of the aforementioned cutting edge, has at least onetooth for piercing the weakened zone. The cutting edge can also consistof a plurality of adjacent teeth. This embodiment is particularlyadvantageous, since as a result of perforating by means of severalpiercing points extensive stretching of the over-coating before it isripped can be reliably avoided.

According to another teaching of the invention the guidance elements onthe base are configured as a crank guiding mechanism. Thus, a restrictedguidance element of the opening element is achieved in a simple mannerwhen the lid is lifted up.

Preferably, the lid is joined to the base and the opening element isjoined to the bar projecting from the lid by means of a film hinge. Inthis way, the pouring element according to the invention can be producedin a single piece.

According to a further embodiment of the invention the opening elementcan be locked in its opened position with the base, so that the openingelement is reliably prevented from lifting up again and thus closing theopening area during the pouring operation. In this way, a definedpouring opening is always present.

Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible that the openingelement, before first-time opening, can be locked with the base. Thispossibility serves to prevent inadvertent opening, in particular duringtransport of containers provided with the pouring element according tothe invention. The term “locking” in the sense of the invention isunderstood to be not only a positive connection, but it is alsoconceivable that the opening element is connected to the base with oneor more thin material bars, which are destroyed on first-time opening.The locking should ensure that the opening element does not damage ordestroy the foil located underneath through vibration or the like beforeauthorized first-time opening of the packaging.

According to a further preferred teaching of the invention the lockingtakes place by means of clamping cams arranged on the interior of thebase, so as to cooperate with the sliding elements of the openingelement.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the lid inthe opened and/or closed condition can be locked with the base. Lockingin the closed condition is advantageous in order on the one hand toindicate to the consumer (acoustically or tangibly) that the containeris firmly sealed by the closed lid, so that for example if the containeris shaken product can no longer escape. The locking in this case canalso be a sealing joint between the base and the lid, in order toreliably prevent escape of the product, ingress of air or the like. Onthe other hand, locking in the open condition is also advantageous,since contact of the lid with the product can be reliably prevented whenpouring.

According to a further teaching of the invention it is proposed that anoriginality seal is arranged between the base and the lid. Therefore, itis indicated to the consumer whether the pouring element has alreadybeen tampered with and the packaging has already been opened.

Finally, it is also possible with the arrangement according to theinvention to produce the pouring element in a single piece, whereby theproduction costs can in turn be reduced.

The invention is described below in detail on the basis of a drawingillustrating only one preferred exemplary embodiment, wherein there isshown:

FIG. 1 a pouring element according to the invention, in closed conditionas a perspective illustration,

FIG. 2 the pouring element from FIG. 1, vertically cut open along lineII-II,

FIG. 3 the pouring element from FIG. 2 with slightly raised lid,

FIG. 4 the pouring element from FIG. 2 with extensively raised lid,

FIG. 5 the pouring element from FIG. 2 in opened position and

FIG. 6 the pouring element from FIG. 1 in opened position.

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the re-closable pouring elementaccording to the invention in closed condition. It is clearlyrecognizable that the overall height of the pouring element is extremelysmall. For better explanation of the functional mode of the openingoperation, in FIGS. 2 to 5 different illustrations of closed (FIG. 2),slightly opened (FIG. 3), extensively opened (FIG. 4) to fully opened(FIG. 5) pouring elements are reproduced, wherein the pouring element iscut open vertically along line II-II in FIG. 1, in order to be able toshow better the kinematical operations.

The pouring element according to the invention consists in theillustrated and to this extent preferred exemplary embodiment firstlyand substantially of a base 1, a lid 2 pivotably mounted at the end ofthe base 1, and an opening element 3 pivotably mounted on the lid 2. Thebase 1 in this case is joined with a flange 4 so as to rotate about apouring opening O above a weakened zone of a—not illustrated—container,preferably a cardboard/plastic composite packaging. The lid 2 is joinedto the base 1 in an articulated manner by means of a film hinge 5.

As particularly clearly evident from FIG. 4, a bar 6 is provided on thelower surface of the lid 2 projecting into the interior of the base 1and working as a lever, to the lower end of which the opening element 3is joined, in the preferred exemplary embodiment with a film hinge 7.

In the interior of the base 1 guidance elements 8A and 8B according tothe invention are now provided, whose position is particularly clearlyevident through the sectional view in FIGS. 2 to 5. They serve to ensurea uniform opening operation of the opening element 3 when the lid 2 islifted up. For this purpose the opening element 3, as evident from FIGS.2 to 5, has laterally arranged sliding elements 9A and 9B, whichtogether with the guidance elements 8A and 8B serve as a crank guidingmechanism.

When the lid 2 is lifted up (FIG. 3) as a result of the front guidanceelements 8B and the associated sliding elements 9B due to the fact thatthe opening element 3 is joined to the end of the bar 6 projecting fromthe lid 2, a forward movement of the opening element 3 is achieved,which lets the opening element 3 dig at a steep angle into the weakenedzone (not illustrated) as a result of the diagonally running guidanceelements 8B in the base 1. So that the weakened zone—which mostlyconsists of a composite made from polyethylene foil and aluminiumfoil—is now reliably destroyed, the opening element 3 at least in thesection, which leaves the plane of the lower surface of the pouringelement, has a peripheral cutting edge which in the illustrated and tothis extent preferred exemplary embodiment, is implemented as aplurality of adjacent teeth 10.

After the opening element 3 first pierces the over-coated weakened zoneand when the lid 2 is lifted up further (see FIG. 4), the openingelement is not only pulled to the rear but is moved via the guidanceelements 8A and corresponding sliding elements 9A downwards into thepackaging interior, so that the section between opening element 3 andbase 1 projecting forwards produces a reliably defined pouring openingO, as also particularly clearly evident from FIG. 6, where the pouringelement according to the invention is once again completely illustratedin its opened position.

So that the opening element 3 is now joined to the base 1 in a fixedposition, before application of the pouring element onto a container andalso after application, for example during transport, a non-positive orpositive connection of both parts takes place. For this purpose, thecylindrical sliding elements 9B, protruding from the opening element 3,are concavely formed on their free front ends, and the base 1 hascorrespondingly protruding clamping cams 11, which hold the openingelement 3 in a defined position until the lid 2 is manipulated for thefirst time.

Finally, the pouring element in the illustrated and to this extentpreferred exemplary embodiment also has an originality seal. For thispurpose, a pin 12, projecting from the base, is caulked with a plate 13,laterally arranged in the lid 2 at a corresponding place as evident fromFIGS. 1 and 2. The plate 13 is joined to the lid 2 during theinjection-moulding process of the pouring element by means of thinmaterial bridges 14. When the lid 2 is first opened, the materialbridges 14, serving as predetermined break points, tear off between theplate 13 and the lid 2, thus indicating to the consumer that thepackaging concerned has already been opened.

1-16. (canceled)
 17. A re-closable pouring element for cardboard/plasticcomposite packagings comprising a base to be applied onto the packagingin the vicinity of an over-coated weakened zone, a lid pivotably mountedat the end of the base, and an opening element pivotably mounted on thelid, wherein restricted guidance elements are arranged between the baseand the opening element, characterized in that the opening element isjoined in an articulated manner at the end of a lever projectingdownwards from the lid, so that the opening element when the lid islifted up is firstly made to perform a linear movement forward, which asa result of further restricted guidance elements arranged on theinterior of the base or on the opening element is converted into adownward movement.
 18. The pouring element according to claim 17,characterized in that the restricted guidance elements have lateralguidance elements arranged on the interior of the base which correspondwith matching sliding elements of the opening element, and in that thefurther restricted guidance elements are formed as lateral guidanceelements arranged diagonally on the base which correspond with furthermatching sliding elements of the opening element.
 19. The pouringelement according to claim 17, characterized in that the leverprojecting from the lid is formed as a bar.
 20. The pouring elementaccording to claim 18, characterized in that the lever projecting fromthe lid is formed as a bar.
 21. The pouring element according to claim19, characterized in that the bar, when the lid is closed, substantiallyextends as far as the lower surface of the pouring element.
 22. Thepouring element according to claim 17, characterized in that the openingelement has a peripheral cutting edge at least in the section whichleaves the plane of the lower surface of the pouring element.
 23. Thepouring element according to claim 22, characterized in that the openingelement in the vicinity of the cutting edge has at least one tooth forpiercing the over-coating.
 24. The pouring element according to claim18, characterized in that the guidance elements on the base areconfigured as a crank guidance mechanism.
 25. The pouring elementaccording to claim 17, characterized in that the lid is joined to thebase by means of a film hinge.
 26. The pouring element according toclaim 19, characterized in that the opening element is joined to the barby means of a film hinge.
 27. The pouring element according to claim 17,characterized in that the opening element before first-time openingand/or in the opened condition can be locked with the base.
 28. Thepouring element according to claim 18, characterized in that the openingelement before first-time opening and/or in the opened condition can belocked with the base.
 29. The pouring element according to claim 27,characterized in that the locking takes place by means of clamping cams,arranged on the interior of the base, cooperating with the slidingelements of the opening element.
 30. The pouring element according toclaim 17, characterized in that the lid in the opened condition can belocked with the base.
 31. The pouring element according to claim 17,characterized in that the lid in the closed condition can be locked withthe base.
 32. The pouring element according to claim 30, characterizedin that the lid in the closed condition is joined in a sealing manner tothe base.
 33. The pouring element according to claim 31, characterizedin that the lid in the closed condition is joined in a sealing manner tothe base.
 34. The pouring element according to claim 17, characterizedin that an originality seal, which is destroyed when the lid is liftedup for the first time, is arranged between the base and the lid.
 35. Thepouring element according to claim 17, characterized in that it isproduced in a single piece.